http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/17/scoot-quad-car-rentals/ Scoot launches electric car rentals and plans second city expansion 2015/10/17 | Roberto Baldwin
[images http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/17/scoot-quad-car-rentals/ driver's side view door open http://www.engadget.com/gallery/scoot-quad/#!slide=3667526 front view http://www.engadget.com/gallery/scoot-quad/#!slide=3667518 speedometer http://www.engadget.com/gallery/scoot-quad/#!slide=3667519 dash http://www.engadget.com/gallery/scoot-quad/#!slide=3667520 dash http://www.engadget.com/gallery/scoot-quad/#!slide=3667521 rear view http://www.engadget.com/gallery/scoot-quad/#!slide=3667521 http://www.engadget.com/gallery/scoot-quad/ gallery Scoot Quad (aka Twizy) http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/ba59bff41dd53b74c25d7e5ea2001454/202818922/1017_scoot_door.gif Scoot Quad doors opening animated gif http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/crop/1200x800+0+0/resize/630x420!/format/jpg/quality/85/http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/c74932760099ecbd906889b007e7fc21/202819756/1017_scoot_sitting.jpg Scoot http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/crop/1200x675+0+0/resize/630x354!/format/jpg/quality/85/http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/93746a626a465ad9f3a14ea4ddff91ff/202818951/1017_scoot-3.jpg dash ] Scoot is moving beyond its namesake. Today the company announced the availability of the Scoot Quad, a four-wheeled electric car from Nissan called the New Mobility Concept (worst name ever) based on the Renault Twizy. The company's fleet of scooters will be joined by 10 Quads as the company evolves into a light-electric vehicle sharing company that will soon be expanding into an unnamed second city. Mike Waltman, vice president of fleet said, "We are narrowing it down now and we expect to be the second city next year." But the Quad is here now and I got a chance to drive it through the streets of San Francisco ahead of today's launch. Right off the bat, like the rest of the Scoot line, renting it easy. The company has been able to seamlessly add the little car into its app. Find a vehicle in a garage, reserve it and then when you arrive, turn it on with the app. After you complete the rather elaborate startup sequence you can start cruising around town. The bubble of a car is more like a go cart or really awesome golf cart then a economy car. There's a windshield and roof, but no windows in the doors which incidentally open up like a Lamborghini. It seems ostentatious until you realize the doors run the length of the car and if you want to bring a passenger along, you need the extra room. Oh and about that passenger, they sit in the back seat. The seating situation is like a log ride or Disney's Space Mountain ride. The passenger sits behind the driver with their legs on either side of them. Scoot was looking for a way to let its users give rides to passengers. It's current line of scooters don't allow for a second person on the bike. This solution not only lets you bring along a friend, but also opens up opportunities for different types of rentals. Like showing off your city to family members when they visit or a very odd date. On the road, the narrow wheelbase and short length make for a fun, nimble car. Then you hit 25 miles per hour and the acceleration stops (I was able to get it to 26 miles per hour once). Scoot has limited the top speed. If you're used to driving a car, it takes a few miles to get used too. The speed limit of most streets in San Francisco is 25, so it's technically ok. But drivers will need to avoid some of the main thoroughfares in the city so they don't piss off other drivers. Fortunately, the acceleration isn't damped by the speed cap. It's on par with an economy car. Not quick, but adequate. Slow top speed aside, I had fun driving the Quad and talking to the people that approached me when I pulled over to take photos. And people will approach you. They're not going to see this vehicle anywhere else. You can't buy the New Mobility Concept in the United States. While Nissan has modified the vehicle for US roads, the company isn't jumping into the market just yet. That's where Scoot comes in. The two companies have partnered for what they are calling a "research project." Scoot gets to expand its fleet offerings and Nissan gets data about the car in a busy urban environment. Scoot members can start renting the Quad today if they're fortunate enough to receive an invitation. The 10 vehicles will most likely be in high demand initially, so Scoot is slowly rolling out access to its members starting with its most active. At launch the car must be picked up and returned to select garages while the company adds the appropriate chargers to other parking spots. The price is four times that of a regular scooter rental. So instead of $2 for a 30 minutes ride, it'll be $8. It's pricier than the bus, but probably cheaper than Uber or a taxi. Plus, a bit more fun. [© 2015 AOL] ... http://news.boldride.com/2015/10/renault-twizy-rental-san-fran/92038/ You Can Now Rent the Oddball Renault Twizy in San Fransisco 18 October 2015 George Kennedy http://techcrunch.com/2015/10/17/scoot-unleashes-new-four-wheeler-quad-cars-on-san-francisco-streets/ Scoot Unleashes New Four-Wheeler Quad Cars On San Francisco Streets [2015/10/17] by Sarah Buhr [video flash Scoot's First Four-Wheel Vehicle image https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/85gvny1yhxqcv5wop-lshtvlsxzdzr_dkmchmue2jfoagje8xo1iwqwesusdxznfqc5u12hcdm6rwyom3jwmv8.jpg ] Scoot, the San Francisco-based electric scooter ride share network, has teamed up with Nissan to create a four-wheeled two-seater enclosed vehicle onto the streets of San Francisco. Starting today, Scoot members have the option to rent one of these adorable little cars to get them anywhere in the 7×7. Known as the Scoot Quad, this is an all-electric vehicle that you can turn on with the push of your smartphone. Just 10 of these little vehicles are ready to hit the road – a paltry amount compared to the 400 some odd scooters in the network. However, Scoot’s VP Mike Waltman told me that’s just the beginning. The Quad is a bit of an experiment for both Scoot and Nissan. “As large cities continue to grow into megacities globally, we need to understand how transportation is changing and look ahead to anticipate what transportation needs will look like in the future,” Nissan Future Lab executive director Rachel Nguyen said. Nissan is familiar with the electric vehicle market – introducing Nissan LEAF to San Francisco orginally in 2010. Nissan will now be working with Scoot to evaluate a different form of electric transportation in metropolitan areas. This is also a boon for Scoot customers. Waltman told us the little two-seater was something its audience had been asking to get for awhile. Like the recently launched Scoot Cargo – a scooter with a larger carrying capacity and ability to haul more groceries and other items on the back – the Quad can also carry larger loads. Unlike the other scooters, Quad can now also carry an extra passenger. Note that, though these little guys are pretty sweet to ride around in, you can’t park the Quad in all the places you can park a Scooter. The startup tells us it recently won approval to park its scooters in any designated parking area in San Francisco. However, Quads will remain in designated garage spaces. But seeing and testing the new Quad are two different things. Waltman recently invited me and the TechCrunch camera crew to the Scoot Quad garage to test it out myself. Check out the video above for that. Riders can get their own Quad experience using the Scoot Networks app — offered on both iOS and Android devices — to find the nearest Scoot Quad. Rides start at $8 per half-hour or $80 per day. [© 2015 AOL] http://www.wired.com/2015/10/frances-funkiest-car-finally-hits-america/ France’s Funkiest ‘Car’ Finally Hits America Alex Davies 10.17.15 [images http://www.wired.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Scoot-gallery10-600x338-e1445019314453.jpg Slide: 1 Caption: The Renault Twizy, rebadged as a Nissan NMC, is finally coming to America. Josh Valcarcel/WIRED Caption: The Renault Twizy, rebadged as a Nissan MNC, is finally coming to America. Josh Valcarcel/WIRED Slide: 2 Caption: It's eight feet long, four and a half feet wide, and weighs just 1,045 pounds. Josh Valcarcel/WIRED Slide: 3 Caption: It's utterly goofy, in the best possible way. Josh Valcarcel/WIRED Slide: 4 Caption: The scissor doors are operated with flippers that look like they were lifted from a pinball machine. Josh Valcarcel/WIRED Slide: 5 Caption: It's packing a 6.1 kilowatt-hour li-ion battery and just 13 horsepower. Josh Valcarcel/WIRED Slide: 6 Caption: It's capped to 25 mph — we got passed by a cyclist. Josh Valcarcel/WIRED Slide: 7 Caption: There's room for two, but the back seat's cramped. Josh Valcarcel/WIRED Slide: 8 Caption: It's being it’s being introduced by Scoot Networks, a San Francisco-based electric scooter sharing company. Josh Valcarcel/WIRED Slide: 9 Caption: “We love its personality,” says Scoot founder and CEO Michael Keating. Scoot named this vehicle "Quincy." Josh Valcarcel/WIRED Slide: 10 Caption: There are no windows, so you’re exposed to wind, cold, and rain, should that ever return to California. Josh Valcarcel/WIRED Slide: 11 Caption: It’s not a vehicle many Americans are likely to buy, even if it does have seat belts, airbags, a stereo, and all the other amenities you’d expect in an econobox. Josh Valcarcel/WIRED Slide: 12 Caption: You can charge your phone, and use an aux cord to connect it to the small speakers. Josh Valcarcel/WIRED Slide: 13 Caption: The 22-foot turning radius is better than what you get in a Smart car. Josh Valcarcel/WIRED ] I don’t think I’d ever be jealous of French teenagers if it weren’t for the Renault Twizy. Now, I know what you’re thinking. That? You’re jealous because they get to drive THAT? And to be fair, the funky two-seater looks like the bastard child of a golf cart and a Countach. And with a 6.1 kilowatt-hour li-ion battery and just 13 horsepower, you’re going no more than 60 miles at a blistering 50 mph. But because it’s so light—a mere 1,045 pounds—French authorities allow anyone over the age of 14 with a road safety certificate to get behind the wheel. Which makes being a teenager in France completely awesome, because they’re driving two years before their peers here in the states. And now, the Twizy has landed in America, where Renault’s corporate sister, Nissan, has rechristened it the “New Mobility Concept,” a name so bleh I will ignore it and keep saying Twizy. It’s not for sale, however. It’s being introduced by Scoot Networks, a San Francisco-based electric scooter sharing company. Scoot works like bike sharing programs: You sign up, pay a $19 monthly fee, and use an app to locate available scooters, which you can ride anywhere in the city for $2 per half hour, or $8 for the Twizy. Because the scooters top out at 30 mph, users don’t need a motorcycle license, but must complete a short online safety course. Founded three years ago, Scoot now has 360 scooters available in San Francisco, and says its users take tens of thousands of rides every month. By adding 10 Twizys to the fleet, it hopes to bring in users uninterested in riding on two wheels. “We love its personality,” says Scoot founder and CEO Michael Keating. The company wants to move beyond scooters to become a platform for a range of light electric vehicles, and thinks the Twizy is the right first step. It’s not a vehicle many Americans are likely to buy, even if it does have seat belts, airbags, a stereo, and all the other amenities you’d expect in an econobox, but it makes sense as something you rent every once in a while. Unlike Scoot’s scooters, it can accommodate a passenger. “Two seats is huge,” Keating says. With a roof and seat belts, it’s safer than a two-wheeler. You’d have to do something epic to flip it, since the bulk of its 1,045 pounds is low to the ground. I took it as fast as I could through some of San Francisco’s tightest turns, and the most I got was some wheel slide. And you can park it basically anywhere. The whole thing’s just 7 feet, 8 inches long and, like a Smart car, can pull into any street spot perpendicular to the sidewalk. That’s technically illegal in most of San Francisco, Keating says, but the minimal length will open up all sorts of spots a regular car can’t squeeze into. The Twizy’s got its shortcomings. It’s not particularly comfortable. The seats are thin and hard, and you feel every bump in the road. The back is cramped. My passenger describes his ride as akin to being knocked around in a creaky wood roller coaster. There are no windows, so you’re exposed to wind, cold, and rain, should that ever return to California. Instead of the classic clicking, the turn signal makes an annoying chirping noise. No power steering is an issue when you try to pull a U-turn from a standstill, but once you get moving, it’s easy enough to flip around. The 22-foot turning radius is better than what you get in a Smart car. It goes from 0 mph to full speed in under six seconds. Hardly mind blowing, but perfectly fine for zipping around town. The biggest problem is the speed. The original version can hit 50 mph, which is adequate for commuting. In the US, top speed is capped at a measly 25. American regulations say anything that can go faster and has four wheels must be certified as a car, which means following all sorts of extra rules for things like crash impact testing. I got passed by a cyclist at one point. Overall, it’s utterly goofy, in the best possible way. The scissor doors are operated with flippers that look like they were lifted from a pinball machine. It attracts more attention, photos, questions, and comments than any sports car I’ve driven. Highlights: “You’ve got a passenger in there?!” and “It’s so cute!” Despite the low speed limit, the Twizy’s super fun. The real advantage is in its maneuverability. It’s four and a half feet across, including the side view mirrors. That’s too wide to lane-split like a scooter or motorcycle, but you can shoot through plenty of gaps. No more getting stuck behind garbage trucks or Ubers waiting for passengers to clamber in. The streets of San Francisco’s Ashbury Heights were apparently modeled on paper clips, all hairpin curves and short straightaways. This is where the Twizy does its best work, where 25 mph feels like 80. The tires squeal and slide around turns, but the car-ette stays planted on the ground and is easy to get back in line. And, I found, you can break past 25 mph if you gun it while going down a steep hill. Just be ready to brake, hard. [© wired.com] ... http://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Scoot-Networks-adds-electric-cars-to-its-fleet-6574999.php Scoot Networks adds electric cars to fleet of shared vehicles Julie Balise October 17, 2015 ... http://finance.yahoo.com/news/nissan-partners-scoot-networks-study-190000660.html Nissan Partners with Scoot Networks to Study the Future of Transportation Business Wire Nissan [October 17, 2015] ... http://sfist.com/2015/10/19/tourists_to_annoy_us_all_in_these_t.php People To Annoy Us All In These Tiny Scoot Two-Seaters Now by Jay Barmann in News on Oct 19, 2015 Scoot Quad nEVs are only available to local SF resident members, not tourists For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Detuned-Twizy-rebadged-as-Nissan-nEV-Scoot-Quad-launched-v-tp4678279.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
